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Not all home safes are the same, and the safe that you purchase must suit your particular needs. When buying a safe you need to take into consideration exactly what you are using it to hold. You definitely something that is waterproof, fireproof, and will survive inclement weather.

Finding a Good Professional

The first thing you must do is find a safe company you can trust, with people you feel will advise you well. This will require some legwork on your part, but it will be worth it in the end. So take the time to do your research. Don’t be afraid to ask for second and third opinions.

Gun Safes

Guns are dangerous weapons and not all safes offer you protection. Gun safes are all shapes and sizes. Many people opt for a cabinet, but that will never protect you from burglary or unauthorized use of the gun.

The thickness of the safe is paramount. The better gun safes come with doors that are at least ½” thick. And it is advisable to spend the extra money to protect your valuables.

Fire ratings are very important. A rating of at least one hour is the minimum you should get. To have a safe independently tested it should be a test of at least 90 minutes. Not all gun safes are good for important documents or cash.

Fireproof Safes

A fireproof safe may not be burglar proof. Fireproof safes are really fire resistant and use a thinner gauge metal that can be easily sawed through. So don’t put highly valued things in a fireproof safe.

Burglar Fire Safes

A highly rated burglar fire safe will be both resistant to fire and thief. The rating is dependent upon how much the items you place inside are valued. Also, try to anticipate what items you may want to store in a safe so that you are not caught with one too small for your needs a few years down the line.

Floor Safes

They may be surrounded by concrete, but floor safes do not protect against fire as they have no fire-retardant material in them. Floor safes are a good protection against thievery, however, and coins, precious metals, and jewelry can be kept in a floor safe.

Wall Safes

Wall safes, though popular in films, are not burglar proof. Their walls are constructed of thin gauges steel, and they can easily be saws out of the wall. So highly valued items should only be kept there for a short time. Wall safes can be good for medications that you don’t want your kids to get into.

Data/Media Safes

For things like film, photos, CD’s and DVD’s, a data/media safe is essential. These items are very sensitive to humidity and temperature and the safes do their work by keeping the temperature lower than 135 degrees, and the humidity below 85%. These safes are not burglar proof, but there are data/media safes that do offer some burglar protection.

Where to Place a Safe

First of all, consider how much you will be using your safe and put it in a place that you know you will visit. Also, don’t put it in a dark corner or you won’t be able to see the lock or what’s inside. If you choose a dark spot for your safe, use an electronic lock. That should solves vision problems. Also, very heavy safes need to be bolted to a concrete floor. Not a wood floor.

Choosing the correct safe for your needs is a process, and there are professionals out there who can help you through it.